Universal’s live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon is off to a powerful start at the global box office, opening with a massive $82.7 million domestically and achieving a worldwide total of $200.3 million.
The film, directed by Dean DeBlois, now stands as the fourth highest global debut of 2025, trailing only A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and Ne Zha 2.
This marks the franchise’s biggest domestic opening to date and the third-best debut ever for a Marc Platt production, behind Wicked and The Little Mermaid.
The film earned a strong A CinemaScore, making it the fourth consecutive title in the franchise to do so. The success was fueled by robust attendance across premium large formats (PLFs) and IMAX, contributing to 38% of ticket sales.
Notably, 3D screenings accounted for 18%, showing strong demand for the immersive experience.
The audience breakdown was led by millennials and families. Women made up 56% of the crowd, with mothers influencing the weekend outing. Kids under 12 rated the film 95% positive on PostTrak, and women under 25 gave it a top score of 97%. AMC’s Disney Springs in Orlando was the highest-grossing venue, pulling in over $102K.
Meanwhile, A24’s romantic comedy The Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, debuted with $12 million, making it the distributor’s third-highest opener ever. The film attracted a mostly female audience (74%) with 69% under 35, and 51% saw it with friends. Its PostTrak score stood at 69% positive, with a CinemaScore of B-—audiences were reportedly divided over the ending.
While the overall domestic marketplace grossed $150 million, it’s down 30% from the same weekend last year when Inside Out 2 debuted. However, the box office is up 33% from the previous weekend.
In the top five rankings:
How to Train Your Dragon – $82.7M
Lilo & Stitch – $14.6M (Total: $365.4M)
The Materialists – $12M
Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning – $9.3M
Ballerina – $8.7M
With strong buzz and Father’s Day momentum, Dragon is expected to continue flying high in the coming weeks.